Ballad For A Soldier

When I was just a young boy
I played with swords and guns
And I dreamed of the day I'd become a soldier
And kill all of the enemy, my country 'tis of thee
I sing this anthem sadly, wont you hear me.

I watched the cannons blazing, on the giant silver screen
The swastikas were burning and the hero was me
The general gave the order, gladly I obeyed
But the movie faded quickly all at once today.

And now I stand alone with the charges made
No where to run, not a place to hide
We're sad little children playing grown-up games
Guess the time has come, the damage has been done.

Stray dogs that live on the highway, walk on three legs
'Coz they learn to slow to get the message
Just like the Indians in the early days
Battles lost and won, yet it still goes on.

It's just another ballad for soldier
I had no understanding 'till I saw my mother cry
When they told how many babies I had killed that night
A dozen color photographs inside of a magazine.

Told the morbid story like a movie screen
But I was not the hero I thought myself to be
Movies are much different than reality
The general was convicted to get off of the hook.

But the President might free me for the chance I took
And we all stand alone when the charge is made
Sad way to live, what a way to die
We're all little children playing grown-up games.

Can we burn the gun before the next time comes
Stray dogs that live on the highway walk on three legs
They move to slow to get the message
Give up and win, that's all I have to say
We haven't really won till all the fightin' done
And there are no more ballads for the soldiers.